Irradiation apparatus and system, especially for photodynamic therapy

Abstract

To allow optimum adaptation of irradiation equipment, especially irradiation equipment for photodynamic therapy, to the individual anatomy of a patient, an irradiation head ( 1 ) is provided with a plate-shaped middle section ( 2 ) and plate-shaped lateral leaves ( 3 ), mounted on the middle section ( 2 ) in such a way that they can swivel. The irradiation head can be rotated about two perpendicular axes (U, W), and its height can be adjusted. With its lateral leaves ( 3 ) extended, the irradiation head ( 1 ) has a plane configuration formed by the middle section ( 2 ) and the extended lateral leaves ( 3 ). The configuration is suitable for areal irradiation of the trunk or extremities of a patient. It can also be configured to a rectangular U shape suitable for three-sided irradiation, when the lateral leaves ( 3 ) are swivelled 90°. Radiation sources, e.g., cylindrical or compact light fixtures, which have a spectrum from UV, through visible light, to IR and are preferably interchangeable, are provided in or on the undersides of the middle section ( 2 ) and the lateral leaves ( 3 ). The middle section ( 2 ) is mounted at one end of a preferably telescoping swivel arm ( 6 ) by means of a first swivel joint ( 5 ). A second swivel joint ( 7 ) is provided for mounting the other end of the swivel arm ( 6 ) on the upper end of a column ( 8 ), which is supported in a column support ( 9 ) in such a way that it can be moved along its longitudinal axis (Z) and rotated about its longitudinal axis (Z). The column support ( 9 ) is mounted, for example, on a control console ( 10 ).

1. Irradiation apparatus particularly adapted for photodynamic therapy, comprising an irradiation head ( 1 ) equipped with radiation sources including a middle section ( 2 ) and two lateral leaves ( 3 ) mounted on apposite sides of the middle section ( 2 ) in such a way that they can swivel to the side; said middle section ( 2 ) being mounted on a swivel arm ( 6 ) by means of a first swivel joint ( 5 ) in such a way that it can rotate, so that the axis of rotation (U)  16  perpendicular to the middle section ( 2 ); said swivel arm ( 6 ) being mounted on a column ( 8 ) by means of a second swivel joint ( 7 ) in a predetermined orientation to rotate about an axis (W); the axis of rotation (U) of the middle section ( 2 ) and the axis of rotation (w) of the swivel arm ( 6 ) being perpendicular to each other column, ( 8 ) being supported in a column support ( 9 ) in such a way that it can be moved along its central axis (Z) and locked, a toothed segment ( 25 ) supported in a pivot (A, A′) mounted on the middle section ( 2 ) on each side of the middle section ( 2 ); and a shaft ( 26 ) driven by an electric motor ( 28 ) provided with a worm ( 27 ) at each end of the shaft ( 26 ) to adjust the lateral leaves ( 3 ); wherein the worms ( 27 ) move in opposite directions; and each worm ( 27 ) engages one of the toothed segments ( 25 ). 
   
   
     2. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the swivel arm ( 6 ) can be pulled out and adjusted to predeterminable length. 
   
   
     3. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the middle section ( 2 ) and the lateral leaves ( 3 ) of the irradiation head ( 1 ) are designed as rectangular plates, and wherein the radiation sources are installed in or on the undersides of these plates. 
   
   
     4. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the two lateral leaves ( 3 ) can be swivelled at least 90° from the plane of the middle section ( 2 ), so that the irradiation head ( 1 ) can be adjusted from a plane surface, formed by the middle section ( 2 ) and the extended lateral leaves ( 3 ), to a rectangular U shape, formed by the middle section ( 2 ) and the lateral leaves ( 3 ) swivelled 90° from their extended position. 
   
   
     5. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the lateral leaves ( 3 ) are supported at the upper end in a bearing ( 31 ) of the middle section ( 2 ) in such a way that they can be manually adjusted, and that they can be locked in a predetermined portion by a pin ( 32 ) in the bearing ( 31 ). 
   
   
     6. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the middle section ( 2 ) of the irradiation head ( 1 ) is mounted on the first swivel joint ( 5 ) by a U-shaped stirrup ( 4 ). 
   
   
     7. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first swivel joint ( 5 ) consists of a lower joint part ( 15 ) and an upper joint part ( 14 ) supported on it in such a way that it can rotate; said two parts ( 14 ,  15 ) of the joint being joined by a disk ( 37 ) that is screwed onto the upper part ( 14 ) of the joint and is supported on the lower part ( 15 ) of the joint in such a way that the two parts ( 14 ,  15 ) of the joint are axially fixed but are able to rotate to a limited extent; and an opening in the form of a circular segment, into which a stop pin ( 36 ) provided on the lower part ( 15 ) of the joint in the disk fits. 
   
   
     8. Irradiation apparatus particularly adapted for photodynamic therapy, comprising an irradiation head ( 1 ) equipped with radiation sources including a middle section ( 2 ) and two lateral leaves ( 3 ) mounted on opposite sides of the middle section ( 2 ) in such a way that they can swivel to the side; said middle section ( 2 ) being mounted on a swivel arm ( 6 ) by means of a first swivel joint ( 5 ) in such a way that it can rotate, so that the axis of rotation (U) is perpendicular to the middle section ( 2 ); said swivel arm ( 6 ) being mounted on a column ( 8 ) by means of a second swivel joint ( 7 ) in a predetermined orientation to rotate about an axis (W); the axis of rotation (U) of the middle section ( 2 ) and the axis of rotation (w) of the swivel arm ( 6 ) being perpendicular to each other column ( 8 ) is supported in a column support ( 9 ) in such a way that it can be moved along its central axis (Z) and locked, the first swivel joint ( 5 ) consists of a lower joint part ( 15 ) and an upper joint part ( 14 ) supported on it in such a way that it can rotate; said two parts ( 14 ,  15 ) of the joint being joined by a disk ( 37 ) that is screwed onto the upper part ( 14 ) of the joint and is supported on the lower part ( 15 ) of the joint in such a way that the two parts ( 14 ,  15 ) of the joint are axially fixed but are able to rotate to a limited extent; and an opening in the form of a circular segment, into which a stop pin ( 36 ) provided on the lower part ( 15 ) of the joint in the disk fits. 
   
   
     9. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein one part ( 14 ) of the joint has an extension ( 22 ), and the other part ( 15 ) of the joint has a corresponding recess ( 23 ) for receiving the extension ( 22 ) for centering purposes and to lock the joint in the axial direction, at the mating ends of the two parts ( 14 ,  15 ) of the joint. 
   
   
     10. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the disk ( 37 ) is fastened to the upper part ( 14 ) of the joint by screws ( 17 ); and wherein the outer edge of the disk ( 37 ) is frictionally engaged with a collar part that bounds the recess ( 23 ) of the lower part ( 15 ) of the joint; and including a spring element ( 19 ) on at least one of the screws ( 17 ) between the head ( 18 ) of the screw and the disk ( 37 ) to permit adjusting the friction torque. 
   
   
     11. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the spring element is a helical spring ( 19 ). 
   
   
     12. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the spring element is a disk spring ( 19 ). 
   
   
     13. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the electric lines for supplying power to the radiation sources pass through a central opening of the second swivel joint ( 7 ), a central cable duct ( 33 ) of the swivel arm ( 6 ), a central opening ( 24 ) of the first swivel joint ( 5 ), and two central cable ducts ( 34 ,  35 ) of the U-shaped stirrup ( 4 ). 
   
   
     14. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the radiation sources are interchangeable. 
   
   
     15. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein light producers are used as the radiation sources. 
   
   
     16. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 15  wherein cylindrical or compact fixtures are used as the light producers. 
   
   
     17. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 15  wherein light producers with a spectrum from ultraviolet, through visible light, to infrared are provided. 
   
   
     18. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the control console ( 10 ) can be moved by wheels ( 12 ) or rollers mounted on its base. 
   
   
     19. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  including a control console ( 10 ) equipped with a support arm ( 13 ) that can be swivelled out or pulled out to stabilize the control console ( 10 ). 
   
   
     20. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  including an operator control panel ( 11 ) installed on the top of the control console ( 10 ). 
   
   
     21. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  including a cooling device for cooling the radiation sources. 
   
   
     22. Irradiation apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  including a control console ( 10 ) having a support arm ( 13  and wherein the swivel arm ( 6 ) which supports the irradiation head ( 1 ) can be swivelled 90° about the vertical axis (Z), and the support arm ( 13 ) can be swivelled 90° about the vertical axis (S) to place the equipment in a space-saving park position.